Associate Director, Student Practice and Clinical Instructor

Position Title & Department:

Associate Director, Student Practice and Clinical Instructor; Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies Posting #

5452

Department Description:

The Kroc School of Peace Studies trains the changemakers and peacebuilders of today and tomorrow.  Kroc is the first stand-alone school of peace in the United States. Innovation in learning and programs is at the center of what we do and who we are. We combine theory and practice not just to understand crises and world issues, but also to imagine new possibilities and develop solutions to humanity’s urgent challenges from increasing inequality and violence to climate change. At Kroc, people discover new ways of building more peaceful and socially just communities through a multidisciplinary lens and experiential learning. We look for passionate individuals who believe in the power of university learning to transform the world for the better.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

The Associate Director provides leadership for the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice’s practice-based learning infrastructure, serving as a bridge between academic instruction and applied peace practice. The role is responsible for designing and launching experiential learning systems from the ground up—including frameworks, curricula, assessment approaches, and external partnerships—that enable students to engage in rigorous, ethically grounded practice. This hybrid position combines administrative program leadership, external relationship development, and instructional responsibilities (including credit-bearing courses that provide academic and reflective scaffolding for practice placements). The incumbent manages experiential programs, cultivates regional partners, and establishes processes and metrics to ensure quality, compliance, and measurable outcomes. This is a builder role suited to an educator-practitioner with an entrepreneurial orientation who can translate vision into sustainable institutional systems.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Leadership and Development 

Lead the design, launch, and ongoing management of new experiential learning programs that connect students with community partners across the greater San Diego–Tijuana region. This is a program-building role that is responsible for creating new frameworks and partnerships rather than maintaining an existing program. Build and manage relationships with NGOs, government agencies, and community organizations to create structured placement opportunities for students in credit-bearing practica and externships. Design and oversee systems for partner onboarding, student matching, and performance evaluation. Ensure compliance with university and industry standards for experiential learning, risk management, and partner engagement, and maintain consistent quality and accountability across all placements.

Instruction and Pedagogical Integration 

Design and teach at least two credit-bearing courses focused on professional practice, reflective learning, and ethical engagement. Based on program growth and instructional needs, the Associate Director may also develop and teach additional practicum or field based courses. Collaborate with faculty across the Kroc School to integrate applied learning into existing courses and develop shared resources and best practices for experiential and clinical education.

Student Advising a